Easy Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Edited June 13th:  When I posted this last summer, I totally thought of Shay, because there are endless ways to Mix and Match this recipe!  You can use any ice cream topping or candy bits that your little heart desires!  Happy Summer!

Here's a perfect and easy summer dessert that doesn't heat up your kitchen.  
Plus, your kids can make it for you!

That's a win-win in my book!

You need really basic stuff, and it's easily customize-able!

That math equation in the picture above?  

That's my kind of math...easy and yummy :)

You can use any kind of topping and candy bits.  You could even get wild and use the Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches.  The sky's the limit here :)

You start out by laying ice cream sandwiches in the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. 

Spread the (room temperature) caramel on top of the ice cream sandwiches.

Please note that Leah is wearing her pajamas.  This comes into play later :)

Then, spread a thin layer of Cool Whip on top.  

I used light Cool Whip, because it makes this dessert healthy.

hee hee hee :)

Put on the next layer of ice cream sandwiches.

Cover the whole bottom layer.

Spread a thicker layer of Cool Whip on the top.

Oh, did you notice that Leah is now wearing something other than pajamas? 

That's because we had to run to the store.  

I had bought 2 boxes of 12 ice cream sandwiches from Aldi, but when I opened the boxes, 1 had 8 and the other had 9.  

Weird.  

You use 19 ice cream sandwiches in this recipe, so I didn't have enough to finish.  

We ran to Aldi and they gave us another box for free.

What Aldi lacks in their counting ability, they make up for in the customer service department :)

Anyway, sprinkle the heath bits on top.

I put the heath bits in the little cup so that it would be easier for the girls to sprinkle.

Here it is in its completed glory!

Oh, I forgot to mention that I drizzled a little bit of chocolate syrup on just for kicks.

After the "cake" is finished, pop it in the freezer for 45 minutes or so to firm up.  You should cover it in plastic wrap (after you serve it the first time) to keep it from getting freezer burn...press it onto the exposed parts.  

That sounds weird, but I think you know what I mean :)

This is such an easy recipe...the hardest part was keeping the girls from licking the spatula as they were cooking!

Slice and enjoy your children's hard work!

I'm linking up with Abbie at Five Days Five Ways!

Easiest Popsicles

Popsicles are a quintessential summer treat!  And they're even a little bit more special when you let your kids make them!

You only need a few things:

1 box Jello
1 packet Kool-Aid
1 and 1/4 cups sugar

You can use any flavors of jello and kool-aid that you think sound good together.  I chose peach jello and peach mango kool-aid.  

I'd just make sure that the colors wouldn't blend together to make brown.  

Nobody wants a creepy brown popsicle.

Aaaaaanyway, put the sugar and kool-aid

and jello in a freezer ziplock.

Shake the bag to combine the ingredients. 

FYI, 2 year olds are really great at shaking things.

Shaker extraordinaires, if you will.

The nice thing about this recipe is that you can just make a small batch of popsicles at a time and can easily save the mix to use another time.  Or, do the math to make more popsicles!

To make 6 popsicles, combine 6 tablespoons of powdered mix with 3/4 cup of boiling water.  Stir to be sure the powder is dissolved.  I did this part, so that Gracie didn't risk getting burned.  Then, add 3/4 cup of cold water.  Stir to combine.

Pour the liquid mixture into popsicle molds.

Freeze until hard and enjoy your tasty work!

And you can let your sisters enjoy the fruit of your labors!

I love how Leah is being all stoic (she was making that face to be silly) and Maggie can't help but giggle :)

Enjoy your weekend!  We are headed to a wedding on Saturday...should be fun!

If you don't have a wedding on Saturday, I bet you could make popsicles ;)

S'mores Snack Mix

I love having the girls help me in the kitchen...most of the time :)

And I like that, years from now, when someone asks how long they've been cooking, they won't remember not being in the kitchen with me...helping and learning.

I have, however, learned that for us all to work well together, I have to have the right frame of mind.

• I can't be in a hurry.
• I can't care about spills, messes, inaccuracies.
• I can't be tired.

For me, that means morning is the best time for us to cook together.  I have a lot of energy, and they have a lot of good listening left!

If I'm baking, I measure things out and let them dump the ingredients in the bowl.  Although, Leah is getting good at doing her own measuring, so that's fun!

Sometimes I find a recipe that they can do fairly independently.  I found one on pinterest awhile ago and it has been a huge hit at our house!

You only need 4 ingredients!

I had never noticed the Hershey's Drops before, but let me tell you, I am a fan!

You just throw the ingredients in a bowl...perfect task for little hands!

1 bag (8 oz) Hershey Drops

1 cup honey roasted peanuts

1 and 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

1 and 1/2 cups Lil' Squares (mini graham crackers)

Gracie handled the chocolate.  I let her use a measuring cup, so it seemed more "official."

Maggie managed the marshmallows (alliteration!).

After all of the ingredients are in the bowl, just mix!

Each girl had a chance to use her pointer finger to do some mixing.  This is Leah's hand and arm :)

And there you have it!

A quick note about the recipe...it doesn't store well.  I stored it in a glass container with a screw on lid.  But, after a couple of days, the marshmallows got hard and the graham crackers got soggy...not the textural sensation we were shooting for!  I found this out when I made a double batch.  The single batch I made first didn't last long enough to get all wonky, so I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

This would make a perfect treat for taking to watch the fireworks or bringing to a baseball game or for eating on a road trip.

All the yummy-ness of a s'more without the mess!

Oh, don't forget to check out the fun giveaway I'm doing here!  

It's a great chance to win two of Miss Hannah's lovely necklaces!  So, stop on by and enter!

It's just as easy as this recipe :)

Oh, I adapted the recipe from here.

And, I'm linking up with Jess!

and Abbie